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India’s final preparations for the decisive fifth Test at The Oval took a dramatic turn on July 29 when head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with chief curator Lee Fortis near the pitch.
India's batting coach in the press conference said that Fortis instructed India’s support staff to maintain a 2.5-metre distance from the pitch. Gambhir shot back, saying, “You don’t tell any of us what we need to do. You have no right to tell us. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond,” while pointing at Fortis in full public view.
Fortis, renowned for his expertise in preparing multi-day pitches but equally known in county circles for being a difficult personality to deal with, stood his ground and retorted curtly: “I will have to report this.”
Ashwin drew comparisons with the Sydney Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (2021–22), where India managed a hard-fought draw while staying restricted in a strict bio-bubble, before going on to script a historic victory at the Gabba in Brisbane. The former India spinner added that the fiery exchanges on the field would only serve to lift the morale of the Indian dressing room.
"I can draw a parallel with Sydney. When we drew the Test in Sydney, there was uncertainty because we were back in the bubble and the Gabba Test was under scrutiny. (Similarly) England were comfortably ahead in the series until that last Test. Till the last day, we thought the Test series was sealed. But the way that game ended, even if it was a draw, and the conversations it triggered and the press conference... it was fiery.
“I won't go into whether Gambhir was right about asking for a substitute or how Stokes immediately shut it down... after all of this comes the video of the fight. And I am thinking, 'Boss, what are you doing? This isn't how you want to play with this Indian team',” Ashwin said on Ash Ki Baat.
Ashwin cautioned England saying that they may have “poked the bear” with their Day 5 antics in Manchester, stressing that the Indian team performs at its best when pushed into a corner. Referring to both the post-match tensions and the heated pitchside spat at The Oval, the 38-year-old suggested that the incidents have only further ignited the fire within the squad.
“When adversity is against the Indian team, somebody will rise up. When we are pushed against the wall, the Indian team becomes a different kettle of fish. It becomes a different beast. That particular thing going into the Test is a serious advantage for India. It may mean nothing if England play good cricket and India don't end up on the right side, but somehow I feel this is not the way it has to be triggered,” Ashwin added.
England make 4 changes to playing XI
Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth Test due to a shoulder injury. Ollie Pope will lead England in the fifth Test. Stokes has been replaced by Jamie Overton in the side. Also, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse have been rested. They have been replaced by young Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.
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